Babble Fish

I am a creep in a videoke joint

One of the reason why I like to watch American Idol (the 1st 3 espisodes of each season) is because it is extremely funny to see people who cannot sing trying to make it to the top. I have not seen the Filipino Idol yet… but I bet it won’t be funny. This is all because of videoke.

After being to a videoke joint in Mintal, a suburban area in Davao where University of Philippines Mindanao is, I would actually believe that the next Filipino Idol could be born there.

A videoke joint in the Philippines resembles a kopitiam that sell alcohol with a machine in the middle that have a big ass TV screen, some buttons that look like the control of a arcade machine with microphone attached to the side, and the machine comes with kick ass loud speakers on the front. That, is a videoke machine that define the place.

For 3 Pesos a song, the customers of the joint can sing all their heart out. No private rooms, no limit and no place for the shy faces. Beer is the top selling beverage (and some local Whisky too) and for me… it is truly a new Asian experience for me. I strongly suggest our beloved Truly Asia country to include this as a new tourist attraction in Malaysia.

It was raining outside, so Claire, her boy friend Neno, her sister Pearl and I moved into the videoke shop. There was a pakcik (majority of the people here look like Malays) who sits at the corner chatting with his friend. In singlet, shorts and slippers, he dropped some Pesos into the videoke machine and started singing. Whoa… he did a rather good Tom Jones number. You really truly cannot judge a book from the cover.

All Pinoy can sing. This is the fact that does not need science to back it up. The UP Mindanao students were the stars of the night. I really felt the pressure as I was expected to “perform” at least one song for the night. I told Neno, I needed more beer in order to do that. At least a few liters. After gulping a few more glasses, served in small glasses like China, I finally got the nerve to check the song catalog. People were cheering.

Well, I picked “Creep” by Radiohead. I am a creep. I am a weirdo. What the hell I am doing here? I don’t belong here. I don’t belong here. Everybody laughed.

It was fun week with the shiny happy people of Davao! Claire and gang really enjoyed the videoke session. Everyone was tipsy. Well, we definitely had a lot of beer. I really hope our toursim ministry will replicate the videooke joints here in Bolehland or our friendly neighbour will snatch some tourists away. Cheers!